Training & Other Support

Family activities which are held regularly during the year that allow foster families and children to meet and have some fun.

Foster carer and birth children preparation training is provided prior to commencing fostering so that each individual or family is prepared and supported before beginning the fostering journey

Birth children support groups are ran throughout the year as well as training for young people around relevant topics

Play Therapist, Theraplay Practitioners, Circle of Security Parenting Facilitator, are among just some of the internal supports provided by Orchard Fostering.

Orchard Fostering has a Foster Carer and a Young Person Ambassador Board to ensure that foster carers and young people have a voice in the running of our services

Orchard Education Service is committed to providing targeted and meaningful educational support for the children and young people in our care. We recognise education as a vital pathway to stability and growth. The objective of the Education Service is to support our young people in reaching their full potential. Over the past year, our service has expanded significantly to meet growing demand, delivering tailored interventions based on each child’s individual needs. Through close collaboration with our foster families, schools, and the social work team, we coordinate educational referrals, offer one-to-one academic support, and implement personalised education strategies to help our young people thrive. Our Volunteer Programme, managed by our Education Coordinator, offers, among other subjects, literacy, numeracy and homework assistance. Our adolescent workshops prepare sixth-class students for the emotional and academic transition to secondary school.

Our Education Coordinator supports carers by liaising directly with schools—ensuring assessment recommendations are implemented and helping identify the most suitable school placements to meet the individual needs of each young person.

We also provide exam-year supports including study resources, CAO advice, guidance on further education options and stress management strategies. We advise our young people on third-level access routes through partnerships with universities such as TU Dublin, UCD, and Maynooth. Our growing network of trained volunteers and subject specialists is central to the delivery of one-on-one learning support, while our ongoing tracking of educational data ensures interventions are evidence informed. The Education Service is working toward the development of Individualised Education Plans, expanded study groups, and further third-level engagement, supporting every young person to reach their full potential.